Upper-forming machine



A-, BATES.

UPPER FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .MAY 19. I920.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.'

/NVEN TUR nu l l lhvp ldl l O A. BATES.

UPPER FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19. 1920.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ARTHUR BATES, 0F LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SEOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PAIERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY UPPER-FORMING MACHINE, I

panying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indi-' cating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for forming or shaping uppers in the manufacture of boots and shoes. The invention is applicable to the forming or shaping of assembled upper materials including, for ex ample, the upper leather, the lining, and an end stiffener or counter, or to the forming of one 0.1 more of such materials, for example the stiffener alone, and the term upper is accordingly used herein as referring generally to one or more of such materials. In many of its aspects the invention relates more particularly to means for forming an end portion of an upper, and is herein illustrated in its application to means for shaping the heel end portion of an upper. although in general the invention is not limited to heel end forming means but is likewise applicable to toe forming opera tions.

A feature of the invention consists in novel means for shaping an upper on a form, which may or may not be the shoe last, to produce on the margin of the upper a flange extending at an angle to the bottom face of the form and located at a distance from the edge of said face. For the purpose of forming or moldin the heel end portion of an upper before the parts of the shoe are assembled on a last, the illustrative machine comprises a metal heel end form on which the upper is shaped as above set forth, the invention thus having in contemplation the manufacture of atype of shoe in which the upper is secured to the insole by sewing it to a rib which extends round the heel end as well as along other portions of the insole. 'i'o assist in the flange forming operation the invention, in its illustrative embodiment, provides margin holding members constructed and arranged to extend along theinner surface of the margin of the upper round. the end of the form and to co-operate with-inwardly movable upper shaping or bending Specification of Letters latent. i 'at t d Aug. 2

Application filed May 19, i

1920. Serial No. 382,530.

means, for example end embracing wipers, to hold the margin of the upper against the edges of the wipers in such manner as to distribute the fullness and to avoid the formation of large'pleats or folds as the niargin is'gathered and wiped inwardly, these members being mounted for movement together lengthwise of the form and for relative movement laterally of the form in response to the pressure of the advancing andclosing wipers and limited as to such movements to cause them to serve as abutments against which the margin is finally shaped to produce a flange upstanding relatively to the bottom face of the form.

Features of the invention are. also to be recognized in novel means adapted for use to secure different results in the upper forming operation, the construction shown comprising means whereby a variation may be effected in the distance from the edge of the bottom face of the form at which the upstanding flange is located, and whereby also the machine is adapted for use either to produce an upstanding flange as above set forth or to produce av flange extending throughout its width in substantially parallel relation to the bottom face of the form. In the construction shown these results may be secured by adjustment of means whereby the movements of the margin holding members lengthwise and laterally of the form are limited, together with corresponding adjustment of the wiper movements, the illustrative construction comprising stops which" are separately adjustable to limit respectively the movement of the member's lengthwise of the form and their movements-laterally of the-form. By the use of such independently adjustable stops, moreover, a va riation may be effected in the relative pressures with which the margin of the upper is molded between the holding members and the wipers at the end and the sides of the 2 form respectively, which is an additional advantageous characteristic of the novel construction PIOVlClGCl' Still another feature of the invention consists in novel means for preventing outward, return movement of the margin holding" means froinany position to which it is moved in the flange forming 0peration,'thus avoiding displacement of the flange while permitting, for example, .a plurality of re r,

companying drawings and pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings: ig- 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine in which the invention is embodied;

, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the heel end form and parts associated there- With in the upper forming operation;

Fig. 3 is a. perspective view of parts shown in Fig. 2, together with a portion of the flange forming wipers, as. the parts appear at the beginning of the fiangeforming opera ion;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts as they appear at the end of an inward flange forming movement of the wipers when the parts are adjusted to pro- 2 5 theupper, and

ducean upstanding flange on the margin of Fig. 5 is a detailview illustrating more fully the arrangementof means for variably limiting the movements of the margin holding members.

For purposes of illustration the invention is shownas applied to a type of upperforming machine illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,197,439,

granted on September- 5, 1916 upon an application of Matthias Brook, and more fully also as to certain features in other prior patents. of Matthias Brock, No. 1,361,960

'jgranted on December 14:, 1920 and No.

502 which is supported on a form carrier 1 1,376,388 granted on April 26,, 1921. Featuresof the general organization of the machine, in so farasthey have not been moditied, for the purposes of the present invention, will therefore be described only briefly,

and for a more complete understanding of the organization of the machine and the details offconstruction reference may be made to said prior patents.

The machine comprises a heel end form mounted for movement on the frame of the machine from a starting position indicated in F 1 to carry the member 2 and the upper into a jmulti-part outside former or 55 formembrac ngmold indicated by dotted [lines at 6 in Fig.1, the form 2 being mounted on the upper end of a two-part plunger 8 vertically movable in the carrier 4 and between the parts of which is a compression spring 10. Power is derived from a pulley 12 on a shaft 14 whereby through gearing, and under control of a clutch 16, movement is imparted to a cam shaft 18 provided with a plurality of cams, not shown in detail, foroperating various parts of the machine. When the clutch 16 is actuated by depression of a starting treadle 20, movement isimparted from a cam on. the shaft 18 to a lever 22 which operates through a link 24 connected to the carrier 4 to move the carrier toward the right ('Fig. 1) to carry the form 2 into the outside former and to maintain it in such position during subsequent operations of the machine. Similarly to prior machines, the machine shown has also means for imparting upward movement yieldingly to. the form member 2, comprising a toggle 26, a plunger 28, a lever and a link 32, and also means for closing the outside former about the form 2', comprising a toggle 34, a link 36 and a lever 38.

After the upper has been securely clamped between the form 2 and the outside former 6, the margin of'the upper which projects upwardly above the heel seat face of the form is gathered and bent inwardly over said face by the action of bending means comprising wipers which, as in prior con-- structions, may comprise end wiper members 40" (Fig. 1) mounted for advancing and closing movements and side wiper memhers 42 which close inward laterally of the form without advancing. Operative movements are imparted to these wipers by independently operated power means compris ing a pulley 44 arranged to be connected through clutch mechanism. to reciprocable wiper connections consisting of a pitman 46 and a wiper connected rod 48. The wiper clutch is controlled by a lever 50 arranged to be engaged and operated by a plate 52 to start the operation of the wipers upon downward movement of a plate supporting rod 54 operated by a cam on the shaft 18 through a lever 56. Clutch tripping movement is imparted tothis rod after the upper fhasbeen. clamped as above described, where upon the cam shaft 18 comes automatically to rest. A plurality of reciprocatory movements inwardly and outwardly over the heel seat face of the form are then imparted to the wipers until such time as the operator again depresses the treadle 20, whereupon the wiper clutch is actuated to stop the movement of the wipers and the various parts of the machine are returned to starting position. In the construction shown, as in prior machines, there is provision for lost motion between the pitman 416 and the rod -18 to avoid completely withdrawing the wipers from over the heel seat face of the form until their final retractive movement, such lost motion resulting from relative sliding movement between the rod 48 and a bearing member 58 to which the pitman 16 is connected, within limits determined by a collar 60 clamped on the rod 48 and nuts (32 on the'end ofthe rod. By adjustment of thecollar 60 and the nuts 62, combined preferably with aicompensating adjustment of the wiper plates as explained in Patent No. 1,376,388, the starting position of the wipers may be varied, resulting in a variation in the limit of advancing and closing movement of the wipers over the heel seat face of the form. The parts as thus far described may be constructed and arranged as more fully shown and described in said prior patents.

To increase the efiectivenessof the wipers in their hold on the margin of the upper, and to avoid the formation oflarge pleats or folds as the margin is gathered and wiped inwardly, the machine, similarly to the machine of Patent No. 1,361,960, is provided with a pair of margin holding members 64 which are curved in substantial conformity to the curve of the edges of the wipers and are relatively movable laterally of the form about a pivot 66 fast on a foot piece or holder 68 mounted to slide in a dovetailed guideway extending lengthwise of the form member 2. The outer ends of the members 64 are connected by toggle links 70 to a block 72 which is guided in the holder 68. Extending from the block T2 is a rod or stem 74 the outer end of which is engaged by a presser arm 76 fast on a rock shaft 78 on the form carrier 4. Fast also on the shaft '78 is a substantially horizontal arm 80 arranged to be pressed downwardly by means of a spring 82, thereby causing the arm-7 6 to press the stem 74 and the members 64 normally toward the rear end of the form as far as permitted by engagement of the holders 68 with the form at the end of its slot, the arm 76 also acting through the toggle links 70 to spread the members 64 laterally of the form, .assisted by the action of light leaf springs 84. The members 64 are thus maintained initially with their outer upper engaging faces at or near the edge of the heel seat face of the form round its rear end in position to clamp the upstanding margin of the upper against the edges of the wipers as the latter are advanced and closed, the margin holding members yielding both lengthwise and laterally of the form against the pressure of the arm 7 6 throughout the advancing-and closing movement of the wipers.

It is desirable in an organization such as herein shown, in which repeated wiper movements are'effected, to prevent, after the first advance of the wipers, outward return movement of the members 64 in such manner as to displace the flange of the upper or to interfere with the subsequent action ofthe wipers. For this purpose there is provided in the outer end of the arm 80 a spring held pin or catch 86 arranged, in accordance with the present invention, to co-opcrate with a series of ratchet teethon a ratchet segment 88 into operative relation to which the pin is carried by the inward movement of the form carrier 4. In the first advance of the wipers the pin 86 is moved upwardly along the series of ratchet teeth which are effective in any position to which the members 64 are moved to relieve them of the pressure of the vention, there is mounted in a plate 90 fast on the form 2 a stop screw 92 for engagement with an upstanding lug 94 on the holder 68 to limit inward movement of the members 64 lengthwise of the form, this screw being adjustable to determine different limits of movement .of the members as may be required. For limiting also, swinging movement of the members 64 laterally of the form the machine is provided with a stop nut 96 threaded on the stem 74 and arranged to engage the lug 94. By adjustmentof the stop members 92 and 96 such limitsof movement ofthe members 64 lengthwise and laterally of the form may be determined as to cause these membersto act as abutments against which the wipers may finally mold the margin of the upper,,in such manner as to produce at a predetermined distance from the edge of the heel seat face of the form an upstanding flange on the margin of the upper, as illustrated in Fig. 4, which may be used subsequently in sewing the upper to a rib on an insole. .It will be evident that the adjustable stops 92 and 96 permit avariation in the distance from the edge ofthe. form at which. the upstanding flange is produced, and that through the provision for independent. adjustments of the different stops a variation may be effected, if desired, in the relative pressures with which the upstanding marginof the upper is molded at the end and the sides of the form respectively. On the other hand, if the machine is to operate on work in which the inturned flange onthe margin of the upper is to. lie flat upon. the .heel seat throughout its width, the stops 92 and 96 may be adjusted in such manner as to permit the members 64 to be forced farther inwardly over the form, permitting thewipers to wipe the margin of. the upper completely down upon the heel seat face. It will be understood that adjustment of the stops to adapt the machine for different kinds of work will be accompanied by corresponding adjustmentsto vary the distance which the wipers are advanced and closed over. the

form, as hereinbefore explained. Sincethe mannerin which the different parts of the. machine. operate tov perform their-functions and the sequence ,of ,theope erations as a whole have been set forth in connection with the detailed description of the machine, no further description of the operation is necessary for an understanding of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a machine for shaping an upper over a shoe form, co-operating members arranged toengage the margin of the upper respectively on its outer and inner faces round an end of the form and movable lengthwise and laterally of the form with the margin: of the upper so held between them as to permit it to slip as the members move inwardly, and controlling mechanism to cause said members after a determinate I movement inwardly over the form to mold a portion of the margin between them to produce a flange at an angle to the bottom face of the form.

2. In a machine for shaping an upper over a shoe form, co-operating devices arranged to engage the margin of the upper respectively on its outer and inner faces round an end of the form and movable lengthwise and laterally of the form with the margin of the upper so held between them as to permitit to slip as said devices move inwardly, and means operative after a determinate movement of said devices over the form to resist further movement of the inner device lengthwise and laterally of the form to cause it to serve as an abutmentin co-operation with the outer device to mold a ortion of the margin of the upper into a angs extending at an angle to the bottom face of theform.

3; In a machine for shaping an upper over a shoe form, the combination with upper shaping means movable inwardly over the bottom face of said form round an end of the form in engagement with the outer surface of the margin of the upper to bend the margin inwardly over said face, of means for engaging the margin of the upper on its inner surface to'hold it against said upper shaping means inupstanding relation to the bottom face of the form, said margin holding means being movable lengthwise and laterally of the form as said upper shaping means moves inwardly, and mechanism for limiting movementof said margin holding means to cause it to serve as an abutment in co-operation with said upper shaping means to produce on a portion of the margin of the upper a flange extending at an angle to the bottom face of the form.

4. In a machine for shaping an upper over a shoe form, the combination with upper shaping means movable lengthwise and laterallyof the form to bend the margin of the upper inwardly over the bottom face of the form, of a device arranged to engage the inner surface of the margin of the upper to hold it against said upber shaping means comprisingmembers movable to-- gether lengthwise of the form and relatively movable also laterally of the form in response to pressure of said upper shaping means, and means for limiting the lengthwise and lateral movements of said members to cause them to serve as abutments in cooperation with said upper shaping means to produce on the margin of the upper a flange extending at an angle to the bottom face of the form.

r 5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe form, of end embracing wipers movableto gather and wipe the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom face of said form, members arranged to engage the inner surface of the margin of the upper along and in front of the edges of the wipers and mounted for movements lengthwise and laterally of the form in response to pressure of the wipers, and means for limiting the movements of said members to cause them to' serve as abutments in co-operat'ion with the wipers to produce on a portion of the margin of the upper a {gauge at an angle to the bottom face of the orm.

6. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a shoe form, of end embracing wipers movable to gather and wipe the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom; face of said form, members arranged to engage the inner surface of the margin of the upperalong and in front of the edges of the wipers and mounted for movements lengthwise and laterally of the form in response to pressure of the wipers,

meansyieldmgly opposing said movements" of the members, and'stops for limiting respectlvely the movements of said members lengthwise and laterally of the form to cause vthem to serve as abutments in co-operation at a distance from the edge of said face, said upper shaping means being adjustable to vary the distance from the edge of said face at which said flange is located.

8. In a machine for shaping an upper over a shoe form, members for engaging the margin of the upper respectively on its outer and inner faces and movable inwardly over the bottomface of the form to flange the margin of the upper, and means for limiting the inward movement of the inner member to cause it toserve as an abutment in co-operation with the outer member to prosoj duce on the margin of the upper a flange at an angle to the bottom face of the form, said limiting means being adjustable to vary the distance from the edge of the bottom face of the form at which said flange is located.

9. In a machine for shaping an upper over a shoe form, the combination with upper shaping means movable inwardly over the bottom face of said form in engagement with the outer surface of the margin of the upper to bend the'margin inwardly over said face, of means for engaging the margin of the upper on'its inner surface to hold it against said upper shaping means in upstanding relation to the bottom face of the form, said margin holding means being movable lengthwise and laterally of the form as said upper shaping means moves inwardly, and means for limiting movements of said margin holding means lengthwise and laterally of the form to cause said means to serve as an abutment in co-opera tion with said upper shaping means to produce on a portion of the margin ofthe upper a flange extending at an angleto the bottom face of the form, said limiting means being adjustable to vary the distance from the edge of the bottom face of the form at which said flange is produced.

10. In a machine for shaping an upper over a shoe form, the combination with means for gathering and wipingthe margin of the upper inwardly over the bottom face of the form round an end ofthe form, of members arranged to engage the inner surface of the margin of the upper round an end of the form and yieldingly movable lengthwise and laterally of the form in response to pressure of said wiping means, and means for limiting the move ments of said members to cause them to serve as abutments in co-operation with the wiping means for molding a portion of the margin of the upper into a flange extending at an angle to the'bottom face of the form, said limiting means being adjustable to vary the distance from the edge of the bottom face of the form at which said flange is located.

11. In a machine for shaping an upper over a shoe form, the combination with upper shaping means movable inwardly over the bottom face of-said form round an end of the form in engagement withthe outer surface of the margin of the upper to bend the margin inwardly over said face, of means for engaging the margin of the upper on its inner surface to hold it against said upper shaping means, said margin holding means being movable lengthwise and laterally of the form in response to pressure of said upper shaping'means, and means for limiting movements of said margin holding means lengthwise and laterally of the form to cause said means to serve as an abutment in co-operation with said upper shaping means to mold a portion of the margin of the upper into a flange eX- tending at an angle to the bottom face of the form, said limiting means being adjustable to produce a relative variation in the molding pressures as between the end and the sides of the end portion of the upper.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe form, of end embracing wipers for gathering and wiping the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom face of said form, members arranged to engage the inner surface of the margin of the upper along the edges of said wipers and yieldingly movable lengthwise and laterally of the form in response to pressure of the wipers, and means for limiting the movements of said members to cause them to serve as abut-ments in cooperation with the wipers to produce on a portion of the margin of the upper a flange at an angle to the bottom face of the form, said limiting means being adjustable to produce a relative variation in the limits of movement of the members lengthwise and laterally of the form.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe form, of end embracing wipers for gathering and wiping the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom face of the form, members an ranged to engage the inner surface of the margin of the upper along the edges'of said wipers and yieldingly movable lengthwise and laterally of the form in response to pressure of the wipers, and stops for limiting respectively the movements of said members lengthwise and laterally of the form, said stops being adjustable each independently of the other to vary the limits of movement of the members in the different directions. I

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe form, of means for gathering and wiping the margin of an upper inwardly over the'bottom face of said form round an end of the form, members arranged to engage the inner surface of the margin of the upper round the end of the form, a holder on which saidmembers are mounted for relative movements laterally of the form, said holder being mounted for movement to carry the members bodily lengthwise of the form, a stop for limiting adjustably said movement of the holder, and mechanism comprising an additional stop for limiting'adjustably the movements of the members laterally of the form.

' 15. In a machine of the classdescribed, the combination with a shoe form, of means for gathering and wiping the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom face of said form round an end of the form, members arranged to engage the inner surface of the margin of the upper round the end of the form, a holder on which said members are mounted for relative movements laterally of the form, said holder being mounted for movement to carry the members bodily lengthwise of the form, a stop for limit ing adjustably said movement of the holder, toggle links connected to said members, a rod extending from said toggle links, and a stop adjustable on said rodand arranged to engage a portion of said holder to limit relative movements of said members laterally of the form.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a, shoe form, of means for molding the margin of an upper over the bottom face of said form, said molding means being adapted for alternative use to mold the margin throughout its width in parallel relation tosaid face or to produce on a portion of said margin a flange extending at an angle to said face.

i 17. In a machine ,of the class described, the combination with a shoe form, of means for fianging the margin of an upper over the bottom face of said form comprising members movable inwardly oyer said face with the margin so held between them as to permit it to slipas the members move inwardly, and means for varying the limit of movement of said members for producing on a portion of the margin a flange extending at entangle to the bottom face of the form or alternatively for stripping the margin of the upper completely out from between said members and shaping it throughout its width in parallel. relation to said face. i i

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe form, of means for bending the margin of an upper in wardly over the bottom face of said form, a margin holding device arranged to engage the margin of the upper on its inner surface and movable inwardly in response to the pressure of said bending means, and means for limiting the inward movement of said device to cause it to serve as an abutment in cooperation with the bending means for producing on a portion of the margin of theupper a flange at an angle to the bottom face of the form, said limitingmeans being movable alternatively to permit the margin of the upper to :be shaped throughout, its width in parallel relation to said face. i

19. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe form, of end embracing wipers for gathering and wiping the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom face of said form, members arranged of the upper along the edges of said vwipers and yieldingly movable lengthwise and laterally of the formin response to the Pliessure of the wipers, and means for limiting the movements of said members to cause them to serve as abutments in co-operation with the wipers for producing on the margin of the upper a flange extending at an angle to the bottom face of the form, said limiting means being adjustable to permit the members to be moved farther inwardly in response to pressure of the wipers for wiping the margin throughout its width into parallel relation to the bottom face of the form.

a 20. In a machine for shaping an upper over a shoe form, the combination with up? per shaping means movable inwardly over the bottomface of said form round an end of the form in engagement with the outer surface of the marginof the upper to bend the margin inwardly over said face, of means arranged to engage the margin of the upper on its inner surface round the end of the form to hold it against said upper shaping means and mounted for movementiinwardlyover the bottomface of the form in response to the pressure of said .upper shaping means, means yieldingly opposin the inwardmovement of said margin ho ding means, and mechanism automatically operative to prevent outward return movement iof said margin holding means with said upper shaping means from any position to which it is moved by the upper shaping means.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe form, of end embracing wipers movable to gather and wipe the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom fa'ceof said form, margin holding means arranged :to engage the margin of the upper on its inner surface and to be moved inwardly over the bottom face of the .form by said wipers, spring means against: the tension of which said margin holding means is movable inwardly, means for limiting and for varying the limit of inwardmovement of said margin holding means, and mechanism automatically operative to prevent outward return movement of said margin holding means during re turn movementof the wipers irrespective of the limit of movement of said holding means. i i l 22. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe form, of means movable inwardly over the bottom face of said form to bend the margin of an upper over said face, a device arranged toengage the margin of the upper on its inner "surface to hold it against said bending means and to be movedinwardly over the bottom face of the formby said bending means,

to engage the inner surface of the margin spring means against thegtension of which said margin holding device is movable inwardly, and mechanism comprising a ratchet-toothed member and a (Jo-operating catch to prevent outward return movement of said device from any position to which it is moved by said bending means.

In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe form, of means for bending the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom face of said form, a margin holdinodevice arranged to engage the margin of the upper on its inner surface and movable inwardly in response to the pressure of said bending means, spring means against the tension of which said device is movable inwardly, means for limiting the inward movement of said device to cause it to serve as an abutment in co-operation with the bending means for molding a portion of the margin of the upper into a flange extending at an angle to the bottom face of the form, said limiting means being movable alternatively to permit the margin of the upper to be shaped throughout its width in parallel relation to said .face by the bending means, and mechanism automatically operative to prevent outward return movement of said margin holding device from any position to which it ismoved by the bending means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR BATES. 

